Hope for a return of Waterford to Dublin Expressway route
In March, the National Transport Authority (NTA) were notified of Bus Eireann’s decision to cease operation of Expressway Route 4 (Waterford to Dublin).
The removal of the service was met with significant opposition in Waterford and across the southeast region.
However, a report published this week by the NTA recommended the introduction of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to protect the soon-to-be-scrapped service.
A PSO is an arrangement by which the NTA procures the service of a bus operator through a tendering process.
PSO is aimed at routes that are not commercially viable, but where there is a socially desirable advantage to transport being available.
In their report, the NTA stated: 'The analysis demonstrates that the withdrawal of Route 4 will create gaps in service provision and will move the overall level of service further away from the service standards set out under the Connecting Ireland programme for this corridor.'
Meanwhile, at last week’s Plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr Thomas Phelan (Labour) tabled an emergency motion, stressing the importance of maintaining the service.
Cllr Phelan said: “It is beggars belief that our national bus company would terminate longstanding services between Waterford, the wider south east region, and our capital city, our largest international airport and our nearest ferry port.
"No other city or city region would be expected to tolerate such blatant disregard and disrespect.”
The motion was passed unanimously by the Council.
